Arguably the world’s most famous figure skater, Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honors, including a Gold Medal in 1984 at the Saravejo Olympics. He is a member of the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

“We are so excited to welcome Scott Hamilton to the FHU campus,” university President David Shannon said in an FHU press release. “Scott consistently proves that good guys don’t finish last. His courage in fighting cancer personally, as well as his leadership in raising funds to help survivors and to aid in research, has inspired many. He sets a worthy example for all of us.”

Since retiring from competition, Hamilton has been an analyst, commentator, performer, producer and best-selling author. He inspires others as a speaker, humanitarian and survivor of both brain cancer and a pituitary brain tumor.

After losing his mother to cancer and surviving it himself, Hamilton became an activist. He launched the Scott Hamilton CARES (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) Foundation and founded Chemocare.com and the 4thAngel Mentoring Program. Events such as An Evening with Scott Hamilton and Friends and Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer also raise funds for cancer research.

Hamilton has written three books: “Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice” (1999), “The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable)” (2009) and the just released “Finish First: Winning Changes Everything.”

About tickets

The benefit dinner will be held Dec. 7 in Loyd Auditorium at FHU. Sponsorships begin at $600 and general admission tickets, now on sale, are $150 each. To learn more about purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, visit www.fhu.edu/hamilton. Forever Communications is the premier media sponsor for the event.

The benefit dinner, the primary source of scholarship funding for FHU, has raised $1 million annually the past 18 years.

About FHU

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson, Memphis and Dickson, FHU offers bachelor’s, master’s, specialist’s and doctoral degrees. More information is available at http://www.fhu.edu.

Scott Hamilton, center, of Denver, Colo, has tears in his eyes as he is flanked by Josef Sabovtchik, left, of Czechoslovakia, and Canada's Brian Orser on the podium, after they were awarded gold, bronze and silver medals respectively in free skating competition in Sarajevo on Feb. 16, 1984.(Photo: AP)

Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medal winner in men's figure skating, shares a laugh with a local TV reporter at Ice Centennial skating rink in Nashville Jan. 8, 1985. Hamilton is touring with the Ice Capades that is in town.(Photo: Callie Shell / The Tennessean)